Remembering Street Roots vendor Rebekah Lynne LaBar

Rebekah Lynne LaBar

Feb. 2, 1956 – Sept. 1, 2018

Rebekah LaBar was born Feb. 11, 1956, in Salem, Ore. She attended a Washington Elementary School, Waldo Junior High School and North Salem High School.

Rebekah also attended Portland State University, where she achieved her bachelor’s degree and later her master’s degree. Post-graduate studies continued until her death on Saturday, Sept 1. She died from pancreatic cancer.

She loved to be on the go, as indicated by her adventures down Route 66, all over the United States, and Mexico. Her true love was her cat, Stinky.

Rebekah taught herself to sky dive and scuba dive, as well as other fascinating pursuits. Most of her friends knew of her culinary skills and enjoyed many fine meals with her.

She joined Street Roots as a vendor in 2015 and sold the newspaper outside the Arlington Club and Starbucks at Southwest Ninth Avenue and Taylor Street.

She was a member of the local Cherokee tribe and participated in traditional customs such as vision quests, sweat lodges, sacred songs and dance, and other fascinating ceremonies.

She achieved Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society with a Master of Science degree. She was loved by all who knew her and well known throughout her community. She will be missed.

A memorial will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, at Street Roots' office, 211 NW Davis St., Portland.